In a public statement, TfL listed several reasons for its decision, including Uber's approach to reporting serious criminal offences, how medical certificates are obtained, and how Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) checks are obtained.

It also cited Uber's approach to explaining the use of Greyball - a piece of software that TfL claims "could be used to block regulatory bodies from gaining full access to the app and prevent officials from undertaking regulatory or law enforcement duties".

So what exactly is Greyball and why is it so controversial?

What is Greyball?

(Image: Getty Images)

Greyball is a software tool used by Uber to hide the standard view of its app for specific riders, and show them a different view of the app instead.

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What is it used for?

Uber claims that the software has been used for many purposes, including "the testing of new features by employees; marketing promotions; fraud prevention; to protect our partners from physical harm; and to deter riders using the app in violation of our terms of service".

(Image: PA)

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Why is it controversial?

Uber was forced to admit it had used Greyball to prevent city regulators from doing their job in overseeing the company's operations, after an investigation by The New York Timesin March 2017.

In 2014, for example, Uber used Greyball to prevent a regulator from seeing that cars were available for hire in Portland, Oregon - a city in which Uber was operating without approval at the time.

Law enforcement officials in Philadelphia, Boston, and Las Vegas have also been "greyballed", according to the report, as well as those in France, Australia, China, South Korea and Italy.

What happens now?

The company will continue to operate in London until any appeal processes have been exhausted - which could take months - so it's unlikely Uber cars will be disappearing from London roads any time soon.

(Image: Getty)

Uber has already launched an online petition, entitled "Save your Uber London", calling for the ban to be overturned. Within hours it had thousands of signatures.

While TfL's decision only applies to the company's operations in London, it remains to be seen whether there will be a ripple effect across the rest of the country.

Uber operates in more than 600 cities around the world, including more than 40 towns and cities in the UK.